Volunteer Awardees with Governor Julia Crouch.
ANGUILLA--Governor Julia Crouch held an event on International Volunteer Day December 5, which is a global celebration of volunteers.
“To mark International Volunteer Day I’m delighted we can come together this evening to celebrate one of the most powerful forces for good in our society: the spirit of volunteerism. It is a spirit that binds communities, uplifts lives, and reminds us that even in the face of adversity, we are stronger together,” she said. “In Anguilla, we know the value of community. We have faced challenges – natu-ral disasters, economic crisis, and, increasingly, the troubling rise of violence in society. These issues test our resilience, but they also reveal something profound: when we stand together, when we give of ourselves freely, we can overcome anything.”
She spoke of assisting volunteers to pick up garbage along the side of streets and noted the spirit of unity, and the joy of giving back. As patron of the Red Cross she said she is proud of the incredible work the organisation does every day, from raising funds through their thrift shop, to delivering life-saving first aid training to providing critical support regionally. She also commended the Red Cross Youth in Action programme that engages young people in meaningful service.
She noted that volunteering is empowering when people come together and discover unknown talents to find solutions to problems facing their community. Those solutions are likely to be so much better and longer lasting than passively waiting for others to come in and impose a ready made solu-tion from elsewhere.
“I want to acknowledge and thank some of the other volunteering organisations here tonight. The American University of Anguilla and the New Anglia Medical School who have given their time and expertise at community health fairs. Also members from ADRA, the We Care Organisation and AXA Cares Food delivery. You are all golden threads that weaved together to make our Anguillian commu-nity stronger and more resilient.”
She congratulated the awardees being recognised for their various contributions and their dedica-tion and selflessness. She said that they have made a tangible difference in the lives of others and embody the very best of what volunteering stands for. “I extend my heartfelt congratulations to each of you on your awards,” she said. “Let us continue to build a society where service is celebrated, where compassion triumphs over violence, and where every person experiences the power of com-munity. Happy International Volunteer Day and may we all keep the spirit of service alive.”
